This 7 story building was designed to offer residents the most amount of space, light, high ceilings and views. It offers a large amount of amenities, such as a laundry room, residents bike storage, 2 elevators, a sun roof and a roof terrace with spectacular open views. Some units have private outdoor spaces. There are spacious and well lit common areas on each floor, that compliment the spacious apartments and create a good sense of openness and spacial consistency. This 40 unit boutique rental building truly stands out from anything else in the neighborhood.

...and here's a shot of the model unit...

There are four units posted on the site. There isn't any pricing on the apartments.

There are also flyers posted along Avenue B noting that the Elim House of Worship is moving into the building, on the 12th Street side...

As previously reported, the Elim Pentecostal Church was in the former building on the site. The Rev. Carlos Torres reportedly worked out a deal to sell the property to a developer to ensure that the church had a future home. (A fire nearly destroyed the building in October 2006. That two-level structure was KO'd in 2012 after a few attempts to renovate it.)

The space here at 193 Avenue B opened in 1926 as the Bijou, a 600-seat theater with a balcony. It eventually became the Charles Theatre, with some programming curated by Jonas Mekas.

As Cinema Treasures points out: "In later years it was one of the early New York theatres to program off-beat and independent films. It showed early Warhol and had open film nights where young filmmakers could get an audience."

12 comments:

Dan C.
said...

In the late 80s, I lived at 188 Ave B. Almost that entire block had been razed, the abandoned building next door (the corner of B and 12) was a crack den which set itself (and our building) on fire a few times. And a lot of petty crime was going on. But all through it, I would hear the attendees of that church across the street at all hours of the day and night having services and singing their hearts out.

It made me look out beyond my little anarcho-punk whiteboy self and see the community around me in that mess of a block. Although I would never have guessed that the area would become luxury rentals back then!

I actually like this block and the building. The design is crisp, modern, and minimal, which makes my heart sing. I think what makes the EV unique is the old juxtaposed against the new. They both can commingle with one another. As I've said, at times, we must embrace change, within reason of course. I wonder how much these units will go for once they're on the market?

In the late 70s-early 80s, a group of old black gentlemen musicians used to gather on this corner, where the abandoned lot next to the theater/church was, and jam together, playing really sweet jazz to anyone within earshot (and in those days, when the streets and many of the buildings were empty, that wasn't all that many). The only one I remember clearly was Dave, who played tenor sax with only two fingers on his right hand; could never figure out how he did it, but the sounds he - and indeed the whole group - produced were magical. Sometimes I'd be walking down Avenue A and in the stillness hear them, and it was like being in a dream. They just vanished some time around 1982, never heard or saw them again, but to this day I wonder what happened to them, and if any of them are still alive.

Can someone please show me the main entrance to this building? Okay sure it's ugly we have learned to expect that in the EV these days, but I was saddened to read about the roof top space open to tenants this can mean only one thing, all night rave parties and no sleep for neighbors.

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